Improvement in refrigerator-cars



A. W. ZIMMERMAN.

REFRGERATOR GAR. No.172-546. Patented Jan. 18,1876.

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7 INVENWR:

N, PETERS, PHGTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON, D CV Y vthe warm air and vapors to the ventilators most convenient.

rilrvrTED STATESl PATENT OFFICE.

'ARNOLD w.' ZrMMERMAN/or DENrsoN, TEXAS, AssIGNoR TosAMUEL rILLsBURY, or NEW YORK CITY. y

IM'PRoi/M'ENT IN REFRIGERA-roR-CARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 72.546, dated January-18, 1876; application filed August 14, 1875.

To all lwhom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARNOLD W. ZIMMER- MAN, of Denison, in the county of Grayson and State of Texas, have invented a new and Improved Refrigerator-Gar, of which the following is a specification In the accompanying drawing, Figure l represents a vertical longitudinal section on line c c, Fig. 2, of my improved refrigerator car; and Fig. 2 a vertical transverse section 0f the same on the line x w, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. p

My invention relates to improvements in refrigerator-cars for preserving fresh meats, vegetables, and other perishable articles while transporting them over great distance; and it consists of an ice-receptacle at the top of the car, provided with dat top and curved or inclined bottom.

Above the ice-receptacle an air-space is formed, that communicates, by side spaces, with the main part of the car, for conveying above the air-space. The condensed moisture is collected by a longitudinal inclined trough below the lowest part of the icereceptacle, to be conveyed to the outside. The ice-water of the receptacle is drawn oft' by end pipes and stop-cocks. 5'.

In the drawing, A represents a car, house, or common refrigerator, to all of which my improved construction is applicable. At the top of the carAis supported on lateral pieces B the ice-receptacle C, of galvanized iron, which is made of one 0r more sections, as found The ice'receptacle G has a at horizontal top with ilanged edges e, and a curved or inclined bottom part. An airspace, D, is formed between the top of the car and the upper side of the receptacle, with doors E passing through car-roof, and airspace for lling the ice into the ice-receptacle. A thermometer, F, extends also through an opening of the top of the car either down to the side ofthe receptacle, or into the intermediate space between two sections ot' the same, to indicate, on being withdrawn, the temperature within the car. A space of about an inch in width between the sides of receptacle C and the walls of the car forms the communication between the main part of the car below the receptacle, and the air -chamber above the same. The air-chamber D has ventilating-doors D at the top of the car.

The meat or other articles are hung, packed, or otherwise stored in suitable manner below the ice-receptacle, with the cold air passing continually in downward direction to the center of the car, while the warmer air and vapors rise along the sides, and pass through the communicating space, up into the airchamber.

The moisture carriedrup with the warmer air condenses on the cold surface of the` icereceptacle, and is conveyed along the curved or inclined under side ofthe same to the lowermost part ot' the same, from where the drippings are conveyed by a trough, G, which is arranged in longitudinal direction, and at suitable inclination, to the end walls of the car, passing, by pipes c, to the outside of the same. The moisture condensing at the top part of the ice'receptacle is also conveyed along the projecting anges e and drip-holes f of the same to the troughs and the outside of the car.

The downward-curved ends of the pipes a, terminate in cups b, filled with water, which allow the exit of the condensed moisture from the inside ot' the car without admitting the entrance ot any warm air from the outside.

The ice-water of the ice-receptacle may be drawn oi from time to time by means of connecting-pipes and stop-cocks d at the outside ot' the car.

The side doors of the car, the doors of the ice-receptacle, and of the ventilating air-space, also the car-walls, are made in the customary manner of non-conducting materials. The large top and bottom surface ofthe ice-receptacle keeps up the continuous circulation of the air by cooling oft' the rsning warm air, While the airspace serves, besides the cooling action, also to render the influence of the sun onthe top of the car less perceptible by being, in effect, an additional non-conductor of heat.

4Iizwing thus described my invention, I 2. The ice-chamber C, havingaat top, perclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters forated edge, Iiamge 'e f, and `curved bottom, in

Patentcom bination vwith the car-body and drip-trough 1. In refrigerator-ears, the ice-chamber C, G, as and for the purpose set forth.`

having a curved or rounded bottom and a flat top, and the medium or central drip-trough G Y ARNOLD W. ZIMMERMAN.

arran ged thereunder, combined with the roof and body of the car, as setforth, forming an Witnesses:

air-chamber, D, at the top and air-channels J. COOK, at the sides of the ear, as and for the purpose T. C. DISMUKE. described. 

